What's next for the Angels in 2024?

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM -- The Angels find themselves in the post-Shohei Ohtani era heading into 2024 after he decided to sign with the rival Dodgers, and now, they have the difficult task of trying to replace his production as they try to make the postseason for the first time since 2014.

The Angels still plan to compete next season. General manager Perry Minasian said the goal is to build a winning club and there are no plans to rebuild or trade superstar Mike Trout. So far, however, it’s been a slow offseason for the Angels.

The Halos have signed relievers Adam Kolarek, Adam Cimber and Luis García to one-year deals, but haven’t signed any players to any multi-year deals so far. That should change, however, as the Angels are interested in bolstering their pitching staff. The club is likely to add a veteran starter either via free agency or trade, and they still could add more relievers to the mix.

There is still plenty of work to do to improve a roster that won only 73 games, but the Angels believe new manager Ron Washington can help instill a new winning culture even without Ohtani.

Biggest question to answer before Spring Training

How much are the Angels willing to spend this offseason to improve the roster after Ohtani signed with the Dodgers? The Angels are roughly $70 million under the first Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold, so they have money to spend even if they don’t go above that mark like they did at the Trade Deadline.

The Angels could use a bat-first player to help replace Ohtani’s production at designated hitter and another utility-type player could make some sense. Adding a top-tier starting pitcher would be ideal, and there’s no such thing as having too many arms in the bullpen. There are plenty of ways to improve the roster, and we’ll see what Minasian and his staff can accomplish this winter.

One player poised to have a breakout season

Catcher Logan O’Hoppe is coming off a strong rookie year and is primed to be the future face of the franchise, possessing strong leadership and clubhouse skills. The Angels also traded veteran Max Stassi, which will allow O’Hoppe to be the club’s primary catcher. There’s a chance the Angels add a veteran as insurance, but O’Hoppe will be the club’s regular catcher. O’Hoppe had strong numbers in September after missing several months because of shoulder surgery in April, posting an .897 OPS with nine homers and 15 RBIs in 26 games over the final month of the season to finish the year on a high note.

Prospect to watch in 2024

Right-hander Caden Dana just turned 20 years old on Dec. 17 but he already reached High-A Tri City last season and could be on the fast track to the Majors. At 6’4”, 215 pounds, he has plenty of size and projectability. Dana, the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, posted a 3.56 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings between Single-A Inland Empire and High-A before being shut down for precautionary reasons in mid-July. He’s not likely to reach the Majors next year but the Angels have been aggressive recently and at the very least he could put himself in a strong spot for 2025 with a strong showing in the Minors in ’24.

One prediction for the new year

Trout will have another MVP-caliber season and bounce back after being plagued by injuries in recent years. Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, didn’t quite have his normal numbers when he suffered a hamate fracture on a swing on July 3 that essentially ended his season. But he was heating up at that point before the injury and it’s likely he would’ve had another incredible second half. It was a fluke injury and he otherwise stayed healthy. He could also get more at-bats at designated hitter now that Ohtani isn’t on the roster, which could keep him fresh. Trout, 32, will be on a mission to prove he’s still one of the game’s best players and will once again prove why he’s the best player of his generation.